I've heard this before... Dr. Stephen R. Covey discussed this in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People released originally back in 1989. It is an excellent book and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone that has not yet read it... I'll have to check out your book Jales I agree with what you said in your post...
modern self-help equals =self-destruction...
The only motivational/self-help books I have given any credit to to date are Stephen R. Covey's
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (I've convinced quite a few people to buy this book and none of them have complained about the purchase yet... some have even praised it as a book they refer to often. This is for all forms of success) and Sun Tzu's:
The Art of War (this is geared more toward professional success... or military, as it was originally intended... but it can be adapted to business tactics).
Covey's books definitely an interesting read... I read The Seven Habits back in grade 10, and again in college when I was doing a paper and speech on a similar topic. I also read the follow up book
First Things First when in college, but was suffering from other external troubles at the time and never had the chance to really focus on my studies.
Just some background...
Covey argues against what he calls "The Personality Ethic", something he sees as prevalent in many modern self-help books. He instead promotes what he labels "The Character Ethic", which is about aligning one’s values with so called "universal and timeless" principles. Covey is adamant about not confusing principles and values; he contends that principles are external natural laws, while values are internal and subjective. Covey proclaims that values govern people’s behaviour, but principles ultimately determine the consequences. Covey presents his teachings in a series of habits, manifesting as a progression from dependence, to independence, to interdependence.
The Habits:
* Habit 1: Be Proactive: Principles of Personal Vision
* Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind: Principles of Personal Leadership
* Habit 3: Put First Things First: Principles of Personal Management
* Habit 4: Think Win/Win: Principles of Interpersonal Leadership
* Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood: Principles of Empathetic Communication
* Habit 6: Synergize: Principles of Creative Communication
* Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw: Principles of Balanced Self-Renewal
He was the first to coin the phrase "win-win". But this principle can be traced back to the 3rd century B.C. to a Chanakya an adviser and a prime minister to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta.
It's been my experience that to find the answers in life, we must examine the lives of those no longer living. Therein lay the answers to all life's questions, because doesn't it make sense that there were intellectuals in the past that ran the course of their life examining these very questions we now seek in our own hearts and minds? Would it make more sense to begin with a fresh slate, and start anew with these very questions, or to pick up where they left off and carry the torch on through another lifetime seeking to elaborate on the very subjects that our predecessors examined as best they could. These works of past intellectuals allow us to examine these subjects from different perspectives while adding our own unique view into the mix. Anyway, I don't want to get off topic... basically I'm saying I don't trust the teachings of many authors that are less than 100 years old, and especially don't trust them if they say to just toss all the past information out the window and start new. That is a fools folly. A path that leads not to enlightenment but idiocracy.
Stephen R. Covey said:
"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."
"Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly."
“Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.”
“Most people think of leadership as a position and therefore don't see themselves as leaders.”
“Nothing is more exciting and bonding in relationships than creating together”